Rodeo Houston

Rodeo Houston

Monday, March 19, 2018

Skirt: Made (vintage fabric) | Shirt: Thrifted | Jacket: c/o Modcloth | Belt: Thrifted 

Earrings: Ruthie Grace | Purse: Thrifted (Vintage) | Boots: Cavender's 

Some might be surprised to know that I am a country girl at heart. While I love the bustle and sights of the city nothing beats the serene beauty and life of the country. However, that isn't all surprising considering that both of my parents come from small country towns and I spent many weekends growing up roaming our family farm. 

With country in my blood and the fact that I live in Texas rodeo season is a HUGE deal in our neck of the woods, especially in Houston. This is only my second year at the "actual rodeo" but I went to the AG shows every year growing up and always loved spending time around the livestock and eating rodeo food. Thus, when my sister and I decided we wanted to go to the Rodeo this year we grabbed two of our best friends (who happen to be sisters) and booked tickets to the Rodeo and Zach Brown Band concert. 

Rodeo style is definitely its own "type" and depending on the rodeo itself, styles change drastically. My friend from Canada was actually SHOCKED that we "dressed up so much" for the rodeo because where she comes from people just wear plaid shirts, jeans, and boots. Oddly enough, the more "casual" style of jeans, boots, and plaid really is common in Texas, but more so at outdoor rodeos, while the Houston Rodeo is quite the affair in Texas. The Houston Rodeo is one of the largest in the world and is held inside a professional football stadium that is converted into a rodeo arena for three weeks, so it's pretty modern compared to what one would most likely think of a rodeo being. 

Nevertheless, even though the Houston Rodeo isn't quite as "country" it still holds all the country charms that I am used to, rodeo events, delicious rodeo food (I tried fried Oreos for the first time...YUM), and visitors all decked out in their country boots. 

I was torn when deciding what to wear, knowing I could go super country, modern country, or stick to my roots and go a bit vintage country. I decided on a mix of it all and put together a look that was country while still being me. I opted to wear this vintage sheet skirt paired with a modern lace top and denim jacket. Of course, no rodeo look is complete without cowgirl/boy boots and I love this pair so much (I square danced in them for 5 years and scooted around my fair share of barn dances wearing them). All in all I love what my look came out to be, perfectly country while still "Madison"!

Have you ever gone to a Rodeo?

Are you a country person?

-Madison

MASTERPIECE

MASTERPIECE

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Skirt: Thrifted 

Shirt: Target

Shoes: Cato's (this season) 

Purse: Vintage (COACH)

Necklace/Earings: Walmart 

Lipstick: Rimmel London Katie 01

"The greatest masterpieces were once only pigments on a palette." 

- Henry S. Hoskins 

I often look at portraits and masterpieces skilfully created and painted by the greats and wonder what was going through their mind. What was the spark inside of them that inspired such beautiful works of art? However, I have only to look at the world around me and see my reflection in the mirror to know exactly what must have been going through the artists mind! Art is brought forth by ideas, by passion, inspiration, the need to fill a void in life and by love of the artist for the art. In order to be art the artist must love it dearly, otherwise he will start over again until it is perfectly as he imagined in his head. Other times the artist might create something that he is not that proud of or different from the norm but he will let the onlookers be the judge. 

Then again, there are times I look at a masterpiece, or so called masterpiece simply because of the name that is scribbled in the bottom corner, and wonder "What was the artist thinking?" There are those works of art that in themselves are bizarre, completely uncaptivating, full of strangely sized people and misproportionate objects. When I look at those works of art, that in my own mind seem completely worthless or void of true talent and mastery, I realize that the artist must have known what he is doing and evidently so if the piece is in a gallery.....it might not be a work that everyone likes, but the artist loves it and there are others that might appreciate it to. 

The thing is, we are just like all of those great and valuable masterpieces that line the walls in museum gallery rooms for all eyes to see. We are masterpieces in and of ourselves. Granted, we might think our lives are a complete mess, that the artist simply mixed all the paint together and threw it on a canvas, but to the artist that mixed up painting was inspired by passion and love. To the artist that piece is a masterpiece and priceless even when others do not always think it is worth looking at. Just because an ancient statue has no arms doesn't mean it is not perfect. Just because a portrait of someone is geometrically out of proportion and oddly ugly doesn't mean the artists didn't see a beautiful work of art in and of itself staring back at him with eyes full of life! You are a masterpiece created by the ultimate creator and most famous and well known artist in the ENTIRE WORLD!! 

You are valuable because of who you are....because of your height, color, size, likes, dislikes, smile, frown, laugh.....everything! The creator of the universe created you out of his favorite colors and blended them to perfection until he captured the image in his mind.....he created you as a work of art because you were inspired by his passion and abounding love! You are part of a life long masterpiece being painted in the timeline of existence every day.....the signature on your life is all that matters and is all that should ever define you! The colors of your painting, the size of your figure, the expression that tells who you are......those are not what defines your masterpiece, it is the artist behind it! Therefore, live life knowing you are one of a kind....you are valuable.....you are treasured......and your life is a work of art because the artist painted it with love. 

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Well that sure turned out to be a bit long, but it was soooooooooooo worth it! I had those words floating around in my head all this week and I couldn't wait to get them down into sentences. These pictures were taken a few weeks ago over my spring break. You might remember me talking about visiting the art museum and that is where these were taken! This day was actually the maiden voyage of my 50mm 1.8 camera lens and boy did it make all the difference when capturing these images inside.:) 

This day was such fun, spending it with two of my dear friends (pictures above), my mom, and my sister. It had been around 7 years since I had visited the art museum and it was so lovely going back and basking in the portraits and paintings of all the great artists! 

Of course, knowing that I would be visiting the art museum meant I was brainstorming for a week on what ensemble I should wear. Therefore, since the art museum is located in the elegant and high end portion of the museum district of the city (Houston) I thought it was the perfect occasion to embrace my inner chic city fashionista with a simple and classic look inspired by life in the uptown part of the city. I chose to pair my midi classic pleated black skirt with an even more classic white and black/grey striped quarter length shirt. To complete the look I chose to wear my tan pointed toe sued ankle buckle shoes and my vintage coach purse. All in all I loved how the look came together and it went so well with all of the paintings :) 

What are your thoughts on your life being a masterpiece? 

Have you ever been to an art museum? 

What would you wear to an art museum? 

-Madison

Spring Break 2016

Spring Break 2016

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Anyone else excited for spring break? I am so excited to have a week off of school....one more day! While I have a week off of school I will still be working on projects over the break, picking up three work days at the local tea room, and completing a number of other things. I also can't wait to spend time with my friends and family, though they all unfortunately do not have spring break until the week after me...bummer! However, apart from those things there are a number of things "To Do" over spring break that pertain to the blog and I am EXTRA excited for those. 

1) Blog makeover time!! Yes, you heard me right, over spring break Minnie Muse will be getting a crisp new makeover and I am over the moon about it!

2) SUPER...SUPER....EXCITED because when I get home on Friday my new 50mm1.8 Cannon camera lense will be waiting for me. Thus, getting the new lense will mean playing around with it over the break. 

3) Since I have a new lense there will be a number of pictures being taken over the break as well as outfit shoots, getting ready to participate in #BramblewoodThrifted blog event. Therefore the weekend of the 11-14th there will be a post every day!! 

4) Over the break (this coming Sunday actually) I have the pleasure of doing a photo shoot with a new up and coming young photographer and I can't wait to collaborate with her as well as get some fabulous pictures for the blog:)

5) I am hoping to visit the art museum over the break with two of my good friends so here's to hoping I manage to take some fun pictures there for the blog!

6) Last but not least, and the most anticipated for me and you lovely readers is my Q&A which will be getting filmed next Saturday and should hopefully be up a few days after that....fingers crossed. If you haven't gotten to comment with any questions you have for me to answer hurry and visit the post HERE to leave me your questions. 

What are your plans for spring break? 

-Madison

//Spring Break// 1947

//Spring Break// 1947

Friday, March 13, 2015

Well.....here it is....a week off of school or for me at least this week is my spring break! In honor of a week off of school and the fabulous years of the 40's-50's here is a post (mainly pictures) of how those young people back in the day spent their spring break.

Have you realized how degraded spring break has become in today's world??? It is so sad to see that people have a negative mindset when it comes to how people spend their spring break. Now being at college I have realized even more the changes in our society. These views of how young people spend their breaks are plastered over magazines and in the plots of Hollywood movies; encouraging and accepting this behavior. It was so crazy to see just how real this lifestyle is when you are at college and see posters all over campus encouraging students to be safe and make good decisions. It is even worse when you hear people mentioning how they will be spending their break. 

Back in the day however, it was a different story!! Spring break back in 1947 was spent by young people at the beach....soaking up the sun, boat racing, dancing to the latest hits, and hosting beauty pageants. When the sun set things were just as special....with glowing, crackling bonfires and portable radios cranking out tunes of the day. 

Spring break was something to remember!

All photos are from an article I ran across here on Time.com in LIFE.